Mercedes has announced its new A-class hatch will start from £18,945 for the entry-level petrol A180 in the UK, rising all the way to £28,775 for the A250 in ‘Engineered by AMG’ trim.
Which engines power the new Mercedes A-class?
The base A180 gets a 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder with 120bhp. The A200 ups the same engine to 154bhp, while the petrol range-topper is the A250, packing a 208bhp punch from its 2.0-litre petrol motor, and available with a seven-speed auto ‘box only.
Petrol cars produce between 127 and 148g/km depending on the power of the model.
There’s an extensive choice of A-classes that drink from the black pump, too. Manual A180 CDIs get a 1.5-litre 108bhp motor, and upgrading to the auto gets you 300cc’s of extra capacity, with no extra power output.
Flagship A200 CDIs have the 1.7-litre diesel, good for 134bhp. CO2 emissions for the diesel range start at 98g/km and top out at 121g/km on the brawniest diesel A-class.
What about the new A-class trim levels?
Base A180s get ‘comfort’ suspension, fabric upholstery and a 5.8-inch colour infotainment display with iPod connectivity. Upgrading to SE buys goodies like 16-inch alloys, sports seats and leather steering wheel amongst others.
Above SE is Sport, with twin exhausts, sporty grille, ambient interior lighting and rain-sensitive wipers.
For buyers who want a sportier look, there’s AMG Sport trim, priced from £23,445. This includes the Mercedes Dynamic Handling Package with sports suspension, perforated disc brakes, and cruise control.
And the AMG bodykit packs 18-inch AMG five-spoke alloy wheels, AMG floor mats and door sill panels.
Finally, the most rarefied A-class you can buy – until the proper A45 AMG – is the ‘Engineered by AMG’ model, which is available with the A250 BlueEfficiency at launch in December 2012, and the A220 CDI AMG Sport in spring 2013.
The Engineered by AMG model includes the ‘diamond grille’, as seen on 2012’s A-class concept, sports suspension, red brake callipers, 18-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels, and 235/40 R18 tyres; plus more racey ESP settings.
The Engineered by AMG model will also feature bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights; red trim parts in the front and rear bumpers, tinted glass, natty red seat belts and air vent rings; and Sport-badged floor mats
When can I buy a new A-class?
The radically different A-class land in the UK in December 2012. An A45 AMG hot hatch will arrive in 2013 to fight the BMW M135i and upcoming Audi S3. More on that soon…